Limits on Government and Rights to Revolution.doc

1
Page

105
Views

Unlock Document

School

University of Minnesota Twin Cities

Department

Political Science

Course

POL 1201

Professor

Elizabeth Beaumont

Semester

Spring

Description

Limits on Government and Right to Revolution
When is there a right to disobey political authority or a right to revolution?
Believes citizens must uphold the social contract or can't revel against just or legitimate
government, which
1. Operate through consent
2. Respect fundamental ends and obey limits, including:
◦ protect individual rights and liberty
◦ non-arbitrary
◦ act through rule of law, standing/declared law, and known, authorized judges
◦ don't take property or tax without consent
◦ don't transfer law-making power to other bodies
By corollary, whenever governments fail to uphold these or use "unjust and unlawful force,"
they dissolve their legitimating social contract and there is a right of revolution
Further Justifications for a Limited Right to Revolution
• So